Printing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A web of material is fed from a supply roll around a tension control roll to a printing unit including a large diameter cylinder having a high friction outer surface. Guide rolls provide for a substantial wrap of the web around the cylinder, and gripping rollers press the web against the outer surface so that rotation of the cylinder effects precise metering of the web from the supply roll through the printing unit and other units which perform successive operations on the web.

United States Patent nu 3,592,133

[72] Inventors Henry C. Webendorter; 948,548 2l|9l0 Knapp et al l0l/228Loubscllrlbenboth 0i DaytomOhlo l,653,l99 12/1927 Belcher l0l/228 X [2|]Appl. No. 774.773 l,907,l39 S/l933 Ball i. l0l/228 [22] Filed NOV.[2,1968 2,927,789 3/[960 Walsh et al. r r t r l0l/228 I45] Patented July13, 197] 3,049,078 8/1962 Smith l0l/228 (73] Assignec lllrrh-lntertypeCorporation 3,084,622 4/1963 Roe l0l/228 Ch 0H0 Primary Examiner- RobertE Pullrey Assistant Examiner-C. Coughenour [54] urn- APPARATUSAttorney-Marechal, Biebel, French and Bugg 4 Claims, 4 Drlwlng Figs.

[$21 US. CL ll/228, ABSTRACT: A web of material is fed from a supplyroll 226/44 around a tension control roll to a printing unit including a[5]] Int. lull 13/54 large diameter cylinder having a high frictionouter surface. Field of Search 4. I0l/223. Guide rolls provide for asubstantial wrap of the web around 219 the cylinder, and grippingrollers press the web against the outer surface so that rotation of thecylinder effects precise [56] Rd'mm Cited metering of the web from thesupply roll through the printing UNITED STATES PATENTS unit and otherunits which perform successive operations on 637,564 ll/l899 HettlOl/ZZB X the web.

PATENTED JUL 1 3 |97| SHEET 1 OF 2 FIG-2 Mil/EN TORS HENRY C. WEBENDORFER 8| LOUIS SCHRIBER A BY Wm,

ATTORNE Y5 PRINTING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a machinefor performing successive operations on a web of material, such as amachine which prints and perforates web material for producingcontinuous lengths of business forms, it is necessary to provide forprecise feeding of the web through the printing and perforating units.Thus when different webs are processed for producing multiple copybusiness forms, the printing on the webs and the spacing of theperforations are in precise registration when the webs are subsequentlyassembled on a collating machine. For example, the machine disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 3,249,3l6 which issued to the assignee of the presentinvention. incorporates a large diameter drum for precisely metering webmaterial from a supply roll to an offset printing and perforatingmachine. The offset printing unit includes an impression cylinder, ablanket cylinder and a plate cylinder each having substantially the samediameter. The metering drum is driven at a speed which is correlatedwith the operating speed of the cylinders so that each web is fedthrough each unit at a precise predetermined speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to animproved and simplified means for precisely metering a web of materialthrough a series of printing and perforating units. The machine of theinvention is ideally suited for printing relatively narrow web materialalthough it is possible for the invention to be employed in a machinefor printing web material having substantial width. While a primaryadvantage of the invention is to provide a significant reduction in theconstruction cost of the machine, the invention also simplifiesthreading of the web material from the supply roll through the firstprinting unit.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a supplyroll of web material is supported by a shaft connected to a brake. Theweb material is directed around a web tension sensing roller whichcontrols the brake and is then directed to an offset printing unitincluding an impression cylinder having a high friction sand blastedouter surface and a diameter twice the diameter of an adjacent blanketcylinder. The web is directed to have substantial wrap of approximately220 around the impression cylinder, and resilient gripping rollers pressthe web against the outer surface of the impression cylinder to preventrelative slip between the web and the impression cylinder. Thus theimpression cylinder of the first printing unit also serves as a meansfor precisely metering the web from the unwinding roll through theprinting unit and through other units for performing successiveoperations on the web.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary and somewhatdiagrammatic side elevational view of printing apparatus constructed inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary and somewhat diagrammatic view of thefirst printing unit with the forward side frame broken away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken generally on the line 3-3 of FIG.2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken generally on the line 4-4 of FIG.2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. I, theapparatus illustrated includes a base I which supports two lithographicoffset printing press units l5 and I6 and one or more perforating units(not shown) for performing perforating, punching and/or slittingoperations on a web W of material which is supplied from a roll R. Thepress unit includes parallel spaced vertical side frames or plates 18which are rigidly connected to the base 10 and to correspondingrearwardly extending side frames or plates 20 also supported by the base10. A pair of rollers 22 (FIGS. 2 and 3) are mounted on each side plate20 and form a cradle for a shaft 25 which supports the supply roll R ofweb material.

A grooved collar 26 (FIG. 3) is mounted on the forward end of the shaft25 and receives a plate 27 mounted on a fixed guide rod 28 and arotatable threaded shaft 29 connected to a handwheel 30. The rearwardend of the shaft 25 includes a semicylindrical portion 32 which engagesa correspondingly shaped shaft 34 of an electromagnetic brake 35 whenthe shaft 25 is moved laterally onto the rollers 22 or when thehandwheel 30 is rotated to shift the shaft 25 axially. A cylin' dricalsleeve 36 is mounted on the shaft 34 and is shifted axially to form acoupling between the shaft 34 and the end portion 32 of the roll supportshaft 25. A lever 38 is pivotally mounted on each side plate 20 andcarries a roller 39 which cooperate with the adjacent rollers 22 toassure that the shaft 25 is retained in the position shown in FIGS. 2and 3.

A cross shaft 45 is supported by the side plates 20, and a pair of arms46 are rigidly secured to the shaft 45. The arms 46 extend rearwardlyadjacent the side plates 20 and include hook-shaped end portions 47which are adapted to engage the end portions of a shaft 25 extendingthrough the roll R for lifting the roll to the position shown in FIGS. 1and 2. The arms 46 are pivoted by a hydraulic cylinder 50 having apiston rod 51 connected to a lever 52 mounted on an end portion of thecross shaft 45 projecting from the rearward side plate 20. A bracket 54is secured to the rearward side plate 20 and supports the cylinder 50for pivotable movement.

The web W is directed from the supply roll R between a pair of guiderolls 58 and loops downwardly to extend around a dancer or web tensionsensing roll 60 supported by a pair of arms 62 mounted on a cross-shaft64 extending between the side plates 18 of the press unit 15. Adampening cylinder 65 (FIG. 3) is pivotally supported by the rearwardside plate 18 and includes a piston rod 67 connected to an arm 68 (FIG.3) mounted on the cross-shaft 64. A gear 70 is also mounted on thecross-shaft 64 and meshes with a pinion 72 mounted on a shaft extendingfrom a controller 75 which operates the brake 35. An ann 76 is securedto the shaft 64 adjacent the forward side plate 18 and carries anadjustable weight member 77 which produces a predetermined torque on theshaft 64.

From the second guide roll 58, the web W extends downwardly to a guideroll 78 which is supported by the side plates 18 of the press unit [5.An impression cylinder 80 is supported by a shaft 82 which is supportedby the side plates I8 and is connected to a drive 85. The impressioncylinder 80 has a roughened or high friction outer surface 86 which isobtained by a sand blasting operation.

A printing or blanket cylinder 90 is located above the impressioncylinder 80 and in nip relation with a plate cylinder 92. In aconventional manner, the blanket cylinder 90 has a diametersubstantially the same as the diameter of the plate cylinder 92 which isinked by an inking and dampening system such as shown in the abovepatent. The impression cylinder 80, however, has a diameter which issubstantially larger than the diameter of the blanket cylinder 90.Preferably. the diameter of the impression cylinder 80 is exactly twicethe diameter of the blanket cylinder 90 so that the gears (not shown)which connect the shaft of the blanket cylinder 90 to the shaft 82 ofthe impression cylinder 80 have exactly a two to one ratio. Thissimplifies machining of the gears and assures that the blanket cylinder90 will rotate precisely twice as fast as the impression cylinder 80 sothat the surface speeds of each cylinder is the same.

Referring to FIG. 2, the web W is directed upwardly from the guide roll78 and extends around or wraps the impression cylinder 80 byapproximately 220 as determined by another guide roll 94. A pair ofresilient gripping wheels or rollers 95 press the web W against theouter surface 86 of the impression cylinder 80 and cooperate with thesubstantial wrap of the web W around the impression cylinder 80, theconstant tension in the web and the high friction outer surface 86 ofthe impression cylinder to assure that there is no relative slip betweenthe web and the impression cylinder.

Each roller 95 is supported by a pair of arms 96 which are mounted on across-shaft 98 supported by the side plates I8. A lever I is rigidlysecured to one end portion of the crossshaft 98 and engages a cam 102eccentrically mounted on a shaft 104 which extends through the forwardside plate IS. A hand lever I05 is mounted on the shaft 104 and providesfor adjusting the pressure of the rollers 95 against the impressioncylinder 80.

A pair of snubbing rods I I0 are positioned on opposite sides of the webW below the impression cylinder 80 and are supported by a pair ofbrackets 112 mounted on aligned shafts I13 supported by the side platesI8. A hand lever II5 is mounted on the shaft II3 extending through theforward side plate I8 and provides for revolving the snubbing rods I10to produce additional snubbing of the web W around the impressioncylinder 80.

From the guide roll 94 on the offset printing unit IS, the web W extendsto the second color printing unit I6 which is constructed substantiallyas shown in the above patent. That is, the printing unit 16 includes animpression cylinder 120 which has a diameter the same as that of theadjacent blanket cylinder 90 and substantially the same as the diameterof the plate cylinder 92.

From the drawings and the above description, it is apparent thatapparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention providesdesirable features and advantages. For example, by employing arelatively large diameter impression cylinder 80 within the firstprinting press unit and by preventing relative slip between the web Wand the outer surface 86 of the impression cylinder, the impressioncylinder 80 also serves as a drum for precisely metering the web W at apredetermined constant rate from the supply roll R and through theprinting units I5 and I6 and each perforating unit. That is, the highfriction outer surface 86 of the impression cylinder 80, the substantialangle of wrap of the web W around the impression cylinder, preferablyexceeding 200, and the gripping rollers 95 cooperate with thesubstantially constant tension provided by the sensing roll 60, thecontroller 75 and the brake 35 to assure that the web W does not slip onthe impression cylinder 80.

As mentioned above, preferably the impression cylinder 80 has a diameterexactly twice that of the blanket cylinder 90 so that the gear drivebetween the two cylinders can be precisely constructed to assure thesame surface speed of each cylinder. However, it is within the scope ofthe invention to have other ratios between the blanket and impressioncylinders, as for example, a 24 inch diameter blanket cylinder and a 36inch diameter impression cylinder providing a 2:3 ratio. Another featureof the invention is provided by the adjustable rods 1 I0. That is, witha relatively heavy web, the rods 110 may be rotated to provideadditional snubbing of the web around the impression cylinder to assurethat the web does not slip on the surface 86.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

What 1 claim is:

I. Apparatus for printing a web of paper, comprising means including ashaft for supporting a supply roll of the paper web, adjustable brakemeans connected to said shaft, a plurality of offset printing pressunits positioned in aligned spaced relation, each said printing pressunit including an impression cylinder and a blanket cylinder positionedin nip relation, a plate cylinder positioned in nip relation with eachsaid blanket cylinder, guide roll means for directly the web from saidsupply roll successively between said impression and blanket cylindersof each said printing unit, said impression cylinder of the first saidprinting unit receiving the web, having a diameter substantially largerthan the diameter of the adjacent said blanket cylinder and alsosubstantially larger than the diameter of said impression cylinder ofeach successive said press unit, said guide roll means effectingsubstantial wrap of the web around said impression cylinder of the firstsaid printing unit, said impression cylinder of the first said printingunit further including a roughened high friction outer surface, meansfor sensing the tension of the web between said supply roll and saidimpression cylinder of the first said printing unit, means responsive tosaid sensing means for controlling said brake means to produce asubstantially constant tension within the web fed to said impressioncylinder of the first said printing unit, and means for driving saidimpression, blanket and plate cylinders of each said printing unit at apredetermined speed to effect precise metering of the web from thesupply roll through said printing units in addition to printing of theweb 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the ratio between theblanket and impression cylinders of the first said press unit is 1:2.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the ratio between the blanketand impression cylinders of the first said press unit is 2:3.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim I wherein the diameter of saidimpression cylinder of the first said press unit is twice the diameterof the adjacent said blanket cylinder, and said impression cylindercomprises a sandblasted said outer surface.

1. Apparatus for printing a web of paper, comprising means including ashaft for supporting a supply roll of the paper web, adjustable brakemeans connected to said shaft, a plurality of offset printing pressunits positioned in aligned spaced relation, each said printing pressunit including an impression cylinder and a blanket cylinder positionedin nip relation, a plate cylinder positioned in nip relation with eachsaid blanket cylinder, guide roll means for directly the web from saidsupply roll successively between said impression and blanket cylindersof each said printing unit, said impression cylinder of the first saidprinting unit receiving the web, having a diameter substantially largerthan the diameter of the adjacent said blanket cylinder and alsosubstantially larger than the diameter of said impression cylinder ofeach successive said press unit, said guide roll means effectingsubstantial wrap of the web around said impression cylinder of the firstsaid printing unit, said impression cylinder of the first said printingunit further including a roughened high friction outer surface, meansfor sensing the tension of the web between said supply roll and saidimpression cylinder of the first said printing unit, means responsive tosaid sensing means for controlling said brake means to produce asubstantially constant tension within the web fed to said impressioncylinder of the first said printing unit, and means for driving saidimpression, blanket and plate cylinders of each said printing unit at apredetermined speed to effect precise metering of the web from thesupply roll through said printing units in addition to printing of theweb.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the ratio between theblanket and impression cylinders of the first said press unit is 1:2. 3.Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the ratio between the blanketand impression cylinders of the first said press unit is 2:3. 4.Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the diameter of said impressioncylinder of the first said press unit is twice the diameter of theadjacent said blanket cylinder, and said impression cylinder comprises asandblasted said outer surface.